Part 2 - Easter

So easter was pretty hectic and uneventful. We rushed through it, not taking many pictures of the kiddos to my everlasting shame.  I got a few good ones but realized tonight as I was glancing through them that I didn't really get a GOOD one of Punky in her dress.  I got a few with Chicken in his little dinosaur tie and one of the whole crew, but mostly nothing worthy of mentioning.  Although a friend of mine got an excellent picture of Punky and her little "boyfriend" (not really, at least not until she's 40) about to kiss.  I don't have that one in iphoto yet, but as soon as I do, I'll post it if I remember.

So our day went like this:

We get up around 7 as usual.  Punky and Chicken open their baskets...without clothes on.  Yeah.  Don't ask me what I was thinking cause I KNEW pictures would be taken.  It was just easier in the middle of our packing (we moved the next day) to not worry with interim clothes before the easter ones went on.

For those of you who don't know me well, our family doesn't celebrate Easter or Christmas as religious holidays because the Bible simply doesn't say WHEN those things occurred (as in not Dec. 25th or a certain day in March or April).  We essentially celebrate Easter every Sunday when we partake of the Lord's supper.  So really, it's just an excuse to buy the kiddos a lot of rabbit stuff, candy and get them all doozied up.  Easter bunnies and Santa Claus's don't come to our house either, but the kids still have a lot of fun.  We hunted candy-filled eggs with two other couples from our church.  They all had fun and all but the youngest two, Chicken and the little cherub with the bonnet below were happy just to sit and play with the eggs.  Punky and The Boyfriend in the orange shirt were in a fierce competition, but he had skill and knowledge on his side.  Mainly he was just faster.  At that point, Punky didn't realize candy was inside and I think he did.  The Boyfriend might have lost to a girl if she had been a little wiser to the easter ways.  ;oD  Here's the whole egg-hunting clan:

Here's our happy, growing family.  Hubby is slumping in a very odd manner in this picture, but he still looks so handsome in his suit and bald head.  I LOVE that bald head and sexy grin.  Doesn't he resemble Daughtry?  I tell him that a lot and I think he's figured out I've got a crush on them both.  ;oD
Here's Punky and Chicken with Hubby's parents (Grandma and Papa).  Don't I have the most beautiful mother in law?  First time I saw her, I thought she was Hubby's sister!  And her hair?  Oh that's original color.  Yup.  Not a hair has been dyed on her head and I can tell you from LOOKING that there are VERY few gray hairs in there!  She's also responsible for their outfits.  I let her buy them this year.
Here's Chicken with his handsome little easter suit on.  I love the dinosaur tie.  He has the cutest little sandals on, too.  

So after the quick easter egg hunt, we wound up heading out and finishing out the day packing.  I hate to admit it, but we even skipped church that night so we could get it done.  There was SO much to do and we were so overwhelmed (and BARELY made it to closing from lack of manpower).  But we had an excellent easter and the kids had fun.  Punky's easter candy is in a ziploc bag and is aiding in the rewards of potty training currently.  She's showing interest in wearing her "princess" panties now, so I think it's time I quit stalling and get it done.  

More posting soon.  I have a mountain of laundry that's literally waist high, so I suppose that needs to take priority over blogging.  The problem is actually doing it.  Have I mentioned I HATE laundry?

I'm baaaack! Part I

After two long weeks and an exhausting two weeks at that, I'm back on the internet...for how long I'm not sure.  Our new provider is questionable and about half the speed.  I'm not digging it so far.  It better speed up or I want my old service back!

Soooo, a vacation recap perhaps?  I won't bore you with a novella today of the past two weeks.  I'll just stretch it out over this week in between finishing unpacking.

We went to Gatlinburg, TN two Sundays ago now.  When we woke up the morning after we arrived, this was the view from our balcony:

Pretty huh?  Hubby loved all the photo ops from here and spent many days and nights just taking different photos.  I love going to the mountains but I'm not overly impressed, but this view was quite spectacular.  Since we live (sort of ) in the mountains, I prefer the beach to the mountains any day.  

So anyway, while we were there, we took the kiddos to a small kiddy amusement park where they rode the train and the swings.

Chicken on the train w/the Aunt

Punky on the train

One of the days (it's been too long ago for me to remember now) but we went to Ripley's Aquarium.  Pretty cool!  Hubby and I had gone there before kiddos were involved and enjoyed it.  It was stressful with two little ones.  Punky enjoyed it, but Chicken was bored.  He preferred eating fish...as in goldfish.  That was the only way I could keep his cranky, tired butt from crying the whole time.  Here's Hubby, Punky, and Chicken in an aquarium exhibit where you crawled underneath and could come up and look inside it.  This was Punky's favorite part (and apparently Chicken's, too, judging by his grin!)

As the week wound down, we were all exhausted and needed a vacation...wait... Here's the happy, tired family.  BTW, I'm really into my new hairdo (even though you can't really see it here)!  This was taken at Cades Cove.  It's a neat little village area with a 12 mile drive (or so) of beautiful views of the mountains.  That mill behind us actually ground up corn.  

And by the way, while we were there, we ran into the naked Cowgirl.  She's not as popular as the Naked Cowboy, but she's way cuter.

Here's a better picture of my hair...and my expanding belly.  I'm 22 weeks pregnant here (currently almost 24).  It was taken Easter Sunday.